Expandable mailing envelope assembly

ABSTRACT

A mailing envelope assembly adapted for machine processing is formed from a continuous web having a separable perforated strip on one edge for machine feeding. The envelope is separably joined to the feed strip, and has front and back panels joined at the longitudinal edge adjacent the feed strip by an adhesive stripe between one panel and a folded-under edge of the other panel. The other longitudinal edges of the panels are joined by an accordian or similar reentrant fold to permit expansion of the envelope without deformation of the panels. The panels are adhesively joined together at one end, and a flap with resealable adhesive and adapted to fold over the other panel is provided for sealing the envelope.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,817,445 Greason June 18, 1974 [54] EXPANDABLE MAILING ENVELOPE 3,580,488 5/ 1971 Komen 229/69 ASSEMBLY 75 I t 3 P. Primary ExaminerWil11am I. Price or Craig Greason Huntington N Y Assistant ExaminerStephen P. Garbe [73] Ass1gnee: Graphos Techni-se i s, Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlbert C. Nolte, Jr.; Ed- H ng mg ward B. Hunter; C. Bruce Hamburg [22] Filed: July 27, 1972 [21 Appl. No.: 275,659 [57] ABSIRACT A mailing envelope assembly adapted for inachine processing is formed from a continuous web having a [52] U.S. Cl 229/70, 229/g92,9 separable perforated Strip on one edge for machine feeding. The envelope is separably joined to the feed [51] 11 11. C] .......B65d 27/10, B65d 27/16 Strip, and a front and back panels j i at the 1 Field r h -:V-::--;,--..-.-2 1929932 gitudinal edge adjacent the feed strip by an adhesive 229/53 48 SB stripe between one panel and a folded-under edge of the other panel. The other longitudinal edges of the [56] References cued panels are joined by an accordian or similar reentrant UNITED STATES PATENTS fold to permit expansion of the envelope without de- 2,279,327 4/1942 Kehr 229/DIG. 3 formation of the panels. The panels are adhesively 2,304,523 8/1942 Young 229/69 X joined together at one end, and a flap with resealable 3,060,075 10/1962 Kincaid 229/69 X adhesive and adapted to fold over the other panel is 3,154,239 Madsen SB provided for sealing the envelope 3,297,231 1/1967 Fesco 229/53 12/1967 Greason 229/70 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I 1 EXPANDABLE MAILING. ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY continuous web is provided with a separable strip on one edge, the strip having feed holes to permit the rapid feeding of the web through the machine during the forming and/or affixing operation. The separable strip may also be employed for feeding the formed envelopes in a suitable conventional high speed inserting machine, for insertion of the individually formed envelopes from a strip of such envelopes, and the separable strip may also be provided with a suitable adhesive in order to permit attachment of the envelope assembly to a newspaper, magazine or the like to be distributed.

While such envelopes have been in general satisfactory for their intended purpose, in the past the envelopes have not been suitable for the mailing of materials other than generally flat materials, such as coupons, or letters or the like, since larger objects tended to deform the envelopes as well as to tear them.

It is also to be pointed out that expandable envelopes have frequently been employed in the past to facilitate the mailing of larger objects. For example, expandable envelopes are conventionally employed as mailers for cassettes of photographic film. Such mailers, however, in the past have not been adaptable to formation and insertion on high'speed equipment.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an expandable envelope, suitable for formation on high speed envelope forming equipment, as well as suitable for feeding by high speed automatic feeding equipment.

Briefly stated, in accordance with the invention, a mailing structure is provided of the type including an envelope, and a strip separably attached to a longitudinal edge thereof to permit machine feeding of the structure, the structure being formed from a singlesheet, such as from a continuous web, of foldable imprintable material. The envelope is comprised of a pair of generally rectangular panels in face-to-face relation, with the feeding strip being separably afiixed to one longitudinal edge of one of the panels, for example by perforations or roulette slits. The corresponding longitudinal'edge of the other panel is folded under, so that it extends longitudinally between the panels, and the adjoining surfaces of the one panel and the folded under portion-of the other panel are adhesively joined.

The other longitudinal edges of the two panels are joined together by an accordian type or similar. reentrant fold. In other words, a narrow panel between the other longitudinal edges of the main panels has a central longitudinal reentrant fold, with the longitudinal edges of the narrow panel being joined to and folded under the longitudinal edges of the respective main panels, so that the narrow panel is disposed between the two main panels in accordian-like fold fashion, to permit expansion of the formed envelope structure without substantial deformation of the main panels.

The two main panels are joined together at one end thereof, for example by an adhesive, thereby forming an expandable pocket. A fold-over flap is provided on the other end of one of the main panels, the flap being provided with reseal glue and being adapted to be folded over the other panel to permit sealing of the formed envelope. The other end of the other panel has a similar extension, although this'extension is separable from the other panel, for example by a transverse perforation line, and may form, for example, a return address label which can be filled out by a recipient and inserted in the envelope with an object to be mailed. The resultant structure may of course be provided with areturn address to facilitate its mailing, and any other suitable advertising or other indicia may be imprinted on the structure.

The envelope formed in the above manner is adapted to be formed from a continuous web, so that the forming equipment forms an assembly of series connected envelopes, interconnected in the longitudinal direction thereof, with perforations or roulettes slits to permit their ready separation, for example, in an inserting machine.

In order that the invention will be more clearly understood, it will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a web from which the envelope assembly of the present invention may be formed, the figure illustrating the various fold lines and perforation lines, as well as adhesive strips, which may be employed to form a plurality of serially connected envelopes according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the web of FIG. 1, with several folds being made therein;

FIG. 3 illustrates the portion of the web shown in FIG. 2, in a further step in the development of the envelope structure according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an envelope formed in accordance with the invention, the envelope being separated from the feeding strip;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the envelope of FIG. 4 with the separable extension of one panel being removed, the envelope being shown with the pocket open;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the envelope of FIG. 5 taken along the lines 66; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section of the envelope of FIG. 5 taken along the lines 7-7.

Referring now to the drawings, and more in particular to FIG. 1, therein is illustrated a continuous web 10 of foldable imprintable material, for example of the conventional type of which envelopes are made in high speed equipment. The web 10 is illustrated to show various fold lines and separation lines to form a plurality of envelopes in accordance with the invention, it being understood of course, that the Figure illustrates only a portion of such a web in the longitudinal direction.

A narrow strip 11 is defined on one longitudinal edge of the web, the strip 11 being separable affixed to the remainder of the web, for example along the longitudinally extending separation line 12, which may be perforated, roulette slits, or other form of separation line. The narrow strip 11 is provided with a central longitudinal row of regularly spaced feed holes, to permit feeding of the web in conventional equipment, for example by means of pins on a pin wheel feed mechanism (not shown). This feeding technique is conventional, and alternatively the narrow strip 11 may be adapted for feeding in any other type of conventional web feeding equipment.

A plurality of regularly spaced transversely extending separation lines 14 are provided extending completely across the web, the separation lines defining a plurality of individual areas 15 from which the separate individual envelope structures are formed. The separation lines 14 may of course be of a conventional nature,

such as perforations or roulette slits.

The web 10 is further provided with a longitudinally extending fold or score line spaced from the longitudinal edge 21 of the web opposite the strip 11, to define a narrow edge strip 22. In addition, the web is provided with a longitudinally extending fold or score line 25 generally centrally located with respect to the separation line 12 and the fold line 20, a longitudinally extending fold or score line 26 spaced from a fold line 25 toward strip 11, and a longitudinally extending fold or score line 27 spaced from the fold line 25 toward the longitudinal edge 21. The fold lines 25 and 26 thus define a narrow strip 28, and the fold lines 25 and 27 define a narrow longitudinal strip 29, the strips 28 and 29 being generally centrally disposed with respect to the separation line 12 and the fold line 20.

The web 10 is further provided with a plurality of transverse fold lines 30 extending between the separation line 12 and the fold line 26, with each area 15 being provided with one such fold line to separate the regions between the separation lines 12 and fold lines 26 into a generally rectangular main panel 31 and a generally rectangular flap 32. The fold lines 30 are of course positioned so that the flaps 32 are much smaller than their respective main panels 31.

A separation line 35 also extends transversely across each area 15 of the web between the fold line 27 and the fold line 20. The separation lines 35, which may be perforation lines or roulette slits are preferably in line with the respective fold lines 30, and in each area 15 define a separable area 36 transversely in line with the flaps 32, and main panels 37 transversely in line with the main panels 31. The areas 36 may form separable coupons or return address labels for insertion in the envelopes for the use of the recipients of the envelopes. The separation lines 35 may extend across the strips 22, 28 and 29 if desired. In addition, the portions of the fold lines 20, 25, 26 and 27 transversely aligned with the flaps 32 and separable areas 36 may also be formed as separation lines, such as perforation lines or roulette slits, to permit separation of these regions if desired. A

transverse stripe 40 of sealing adhesive is provided in each area 15 adjacent the junctions of the main panels and separation line 14, and the underside of the narrow strip 22 is provided with a stripe 41 of sealing adhesive, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The stripes 40 and 41 are employed to seal one end and side of the envelope together to form a pocket, and thus conventional adhesive for this purpose may be employed. It is not necessary that the stripe 40 extend clear across the web, although it should extend across at least one of the main panels and the central strips 28 and 29 to insure that the entire bottom edge of the envelope is sealed. It is furthermore desirable, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, that the edge of the sealing stripe 41 be slightly separated from the fold line 20, for purposes that will be explained in more detail in the following paragraphs. In addition, the ends of the flaps 32 adjacent the separation lines 14 are coated with a resealable adhesive layer 42, to enable the receipient of the envelope to seal the envelope after he has inserted objects therein.

Referring now to FIG. 2, therein is illustrated one possible step in the formation of the web 10 into envelopes according to the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the web 10 has been folded in one direction along the fold line 25, and in the opposite direction along the fold line 26 and 27, so that a reentrant fold is provided extending longitudinally of the web. In addition, the narrow strip 22 has been folded upwardly, in the same sense as the fold of fold line 26.

In a further step in the sequence of forming envelope structures according tothe invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the main panels 37 have been folded over into alignment with the panels 31, so that the stripe 40 of adhesive seals the ends of the panels together, and the stripe of adhesive 41 seals the edges of the panels together. (Alternatively, of course, the stripe 41 could be applied on the top surface of the web adjacent the separation line 12.) The structure as shown in FIG. 3 thus forms an assemblage of serially connected envelope structures connected along separable lines. This assemblage may be stored if desired for later use in a high speed inserting machine of conventional nature. For example, the assemblage may be stored in accordian fashion in a bin for feeding an inserting machine, or alternatively the assemblage may be rolled, to form a row of envelopes for feeding such a machine. The feeding strip 11 serves to aid in the feeding of the envelope structures in the inserting machine, and if desired, this strip may also be provided with a rapid setting adhesive in conventional manner in the inserting machine to enable the envelope structures to be adhesively applied to a page or cover of material to be distributed.

The envelope structure, separated from the feeding strip, is illustrated in FIG. 4. This may be the form of the structure after a recipient has torn it away from the feeding strip upon receipt. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the separable area 36 has been removed, so that the pocket of the envelope is clearly visible. The flap 36, as above noted, may form a return address label for the recipient to fill out and insert in the envelope, or it may form a separable coupon for the recipient to tear off and insert into the envelope. The use of this separable portion of course does not form a part of the present invention itself.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the longitudinal edge of the panel 31 formed by the fold line 26 is joined to the longitudinal edge of the panel 37 formed by the fold line 27 by the strips 28 and 29, so that the strips 28 and 29 form an accordian or reentrant fold. This permits the envelope to be opened up between the main panel 31 and 37 to permit the insertion therein of an object without substantial deformation of the edges of the main panels. In addition, the edge of the panel 37 defined by the fold line 20 is joined to the edge of the panel 31 defined by the separation line 12 by the folded under narrow strip 22 which is adhesively joined to the surface of the panel 31. As above noted, it is preferable that the adhesive stripe 41 does not extend to the fold line 20. As is more apparent in the cross section of FIG. 6, this permits some deformation of the envelope along the fold line upon the insertion of an object within the envelope, in other words, so that the envelope has some give at this point. As further illustrated in FIG. 5, the portions of the areas 28 and 29 transversely aligned with the flap 32 may be removed by means of the perforations lines as above noted, although this is not absolutely necessary. In addition, the portion of the strip 22 aligned with the flap is illustrated as not having been removed. This may be desirable in order to facilitate the provision of the stripe 41 of adhesive, so that interuption of the stripe is not necessary.

FIG. 5 illustrates a longitudinal cross-section of the envelope of FIG. 5. In this figure it is seen that the flap 32 extends beyond the pocket of the envelope, so that a recipient of the envelope may fold the flap along the fold line 30, to seal the envelope by means of the reseal adhesive 42, the flap 32 thereby being folded around the outside of the panel 37.

While the invention has been disclosed with reference to a single embodiment, it will be apparent that many variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. For example, instead of a single accordian fold at the longitudinal edges of the panels as disclosed, more such folds may be employed in accordian fashion to permit wider opening of the envelope. Similarly, if desired, accordian or reentrant folds may be provided at the other longitudinal edge of the envelope. It is therefore intended in the following claims to cover each such variation and modification as falls within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mailing structure of the type including an envelope, and a strip attached thereto for machine feeding of the structure, and wherein the structure is formed of a single sheet of foldable material, the improvement wherein said envelope is comprised of a first generally rectangular panel having one longitudinal edge separably affixed to said strip, a second panel generally of the same size and substantially in alignment with said first panel, a narrow panel affixed to the longitudinal edge of said second panel adjacent said strip and folded under to lie between said first and second panels, said narrow panel being adhesively joined to the. surface of said first panel, a longitudinally extending accordian fold joining the other longitudinal edges of said first and second panels, a transversely extending adhesive strip for joining aligned first ends of said first and second panels to thereby forming a pocket between said first and second panels,'a flap foldably affixed to the other end of one of said first and second panels, and a reseal adhesive on said flap means, whereby said flap may be folded around the other of said first and second panels and sealed thereto, said accordian fold comprising a second narrow panel connected to each of said other longitudinal edges of said first and second panels by fold lines and said second narrow panel being divided into first'and second longitudinal strips by a central longitudinal fold line, said transversely extending adhesive strip extending across one of said first and second panels and across said second narrow panel, said first longitudinal strip being adhered to said first panel and said second longitudinal strip being adhered to said second panel, the parts of said second narrow panel other than those across which said adhesive strip extends being free of the panels to allow expansion of the pocket.

2. The'mailing structure of claim 1 further comprising a separable panel affixed to the other end of the other of said panels, said separable panel being aligned with and generally of the said size as same flap.

3. A mailing structure formed of a generally rectangular single sheet of a foldable imprintable material, said sheet having a narrow separable strip on one longitudinal edge and adapted for feeding in automatic feeding equipment, the remainder of said sheet which extends transversely from said narrow separable strip comprising, in the following order:

1. A first generally rectangular main panel,

2. A first narrow longitudinally extending strip separated from said first main panel by a first fold line,

3. A second longitudinally extending narrow strip separated from said first strip by a second fold line,

4. A second generally rectangular main panel separated from said second narrow strip by a third fold line, said second main panel being of substantially the same size as said first main panel, and

5. A third longitudinally extending narrow strip separated from said second main panel by a fourth fold line, said third narrow strip extending from said fourth fold line to the other longitudinal edge of said sheet,

said sheet being folded along said first, second, .third and fourth fold lines with the folds on said first, thirdand fourth fold lines being in the same sense and the fold along the second fold line being in the opposite sense, whereby said second main panel is aligned in face-to-face relation with said first main panel, one longitudinal edge of the second main panel being separated from the first main panel by said third narrow strip, and the other longitudinal edge of said second main panel being separated from said first main panel by said first and second narrow strips, adjoining surfaces of said third narrow strip and said first panel being adhesively joined, said first narrow strip being adhesively t joined to said first main panel at one end thereof, said second narrow strip being adhesively joined to said second main panel at said one end and said main panel being adhesively joined to each other at said one end to form an expansible pocket.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said sheet further comprises a generally rectangular flap affixed to the other end of one of said main panels and separated therefrom by a fold line, and a reseal adhesive on said flap.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said flap extends from said first main panel and has one longitudinal edge separably joined to said narrow separable strip.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein a separable gen- I erally rectangular area is connected by a separation line to the other end of the other of said main panels, said area being in face-toface relation and of generally the same size as said flap.

7. The structure of claim 3 wherein the adhesive joining of said first main panel and said third narrow strip comprises a longitudinally extending narrow stripe of adhesive transversely separated from said fourth fold line, whereby some deformation of said sheet adjacent said fourth fold line may occur upon opening of said pocket. 

1. In a mailing structure of the type including an envelope, and a strip attached thereto for machine feeding of the structure, and wherein the structure is formed of a single sheet of foldable material, the improvement wherein said envelope is comprised of a first generally rectangular panel having one longitudinal edge separably affixed to said strip, a second panel generally of the same size and substantially in alignment with said first panel, a narrow panel affixed to the longitudinal edge of said second panel adjacent said strip and folded under to lie between said first and second panels, said narrow panel being adhesively joined to the surface of said first panel, a longitudinally extending accordian fold joining the other longitudinal edges of said first and second panels, a transversely extending adhesive strip for joining aligned first ends of said first and second panels to thereby forming a pocket between said first and second panels, a flap foldably affixed to the other end of one of said first and second panels, and a reseal adhesive on said flap means, whereby said flap may be folded around the other of said first and second panels and sealed thereto, said accordian fold comprising a second narrow panel connected to each of said other longitudinal edges of said first and second panels by fold lines and said second narrow panel being divided into first and second longitudinal strips by a central longitudinal fold line, said transversely extending adhesive strip extending across one of said first and second panels and across said second narrow panel, said first longitudinal strip being adhered to said first panel and said second longitudinal strip being adhered to said second panel, the parts of said second narrow panel other than those across which said adhesive strip extends being free of the panels to allow expansion of the pocket.
 2. The mailing structure of claim 1 further comprising a separable panel affixed to the other end of the other of said panels, said separable panel being aligned with and generally of the said size as same flap.
 2. A first narrow longitudinally extending strip separated from said first main panel by a first fold line,
 3. A second longitudinally extending narrow strip separated from said first strip by a second fold line,
 3. A mailing structure formed of a generally rectangular single sheet of a foldable imprintable material, said sheet having a narrow separable strip on one longitudinal edge and adapted for feeding in automatic feeding equipment, the remainder of said sheet which extends transversely from said narrow separable strip comprising, in the following order:
 4. A second generally rectangular main panel separated from said second narrow strip by a third fold line, said second main panel being of substantially the same size as said first main panel, and
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said sheet further comprises a generally rectangular flap affixed to the other end of one of said main panels and separated therefrom by a fold line, and a reseal adhesive on said flap.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said flap extends from said first main panel and has one longitudinal edge separably joined to said narrow separable strip.
 5. A third longitudinally extending narrow strip separated from said second main panel by a fourth fold line, said third narrow strip extending from said fourth fold line to the other longitudinal edge of said sheet, said sheet being folded along said first, second, third and fourth fold lines with the folds on said first, third and fourth fold lines being in the same sense and the fold along the second fold line being in the opposite sense, whereby said second main panel is aligned in face-to-face relation with said first main panel, one longitudinal edge of the second main panel being separated from the first main panel by said third narrow strip, and the other longitudinal edge of said second main panel being separated from said first main panel by said first and second narrow strips, adjoining surfaces of said third narrow strip and said first panel being adhesively joined, said first narrow strip being adhesively joined to said first main panel at one end thereof, said second narrow strip being adhesively joined to said second main panel at said one end and said main panel being adhesively joined to each other at said one end to form an expansible pocket.
 6. The structure of claim 4 wherein a separable generally rectangular area is connected by a separation line to the other end of the other of said main panels, said area being in face-to-face relation and of generally the same size as said flap.
 7. The structure of claim 3 wherein the adhesive joining of said first main panel and said third narrow strip comprises a longitudinally extending narrow stripe of adhesive transversely separated from said fourth fold line, whereby some deformation of said sheet adjacent said fourth fold line may occur upon opening of said pocket. 